Keynote Speaker, the Rev. Shari Prestemon: Associate General Minister / Co-Executive of Global Ministries for the United Church of Christ

Shari received her Bachelor’s Degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and her Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary. She has served on multiple Boards of Directors in the wider UCC, including on the United Church of Christ Board, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Co-Chair of the Common Global Ministries Board of the UCC & Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Vice Chair of the Cornerstone Fund Board. She also served as Chair of the Council of Conference Ministers of the UCC, on the Steering Committee of the UCC Palestine-Israel Network, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Council of Churches.

Shari’s faith journey has been profoundly shaped by direct experiences with the ministries she now supports in her current role with the National Ministries. She served as a Peace & Justice Intern for one year with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Dumaguete City on behalf of the (former) United Church Board for World Ministries. She has participated in and led multiple study trips to Palestine and Israel and has journeyed with Global Ministries delegations to Haiti, Columbia, Germany, Indonesia, and East Timor. She partnered extensively with Global H.O.P.E. when Hurricane Katrina devastated Back Bay Mission and the Gulf Coast region in 2005. Of her experiences Prestemon says, “I have personally witnessed the life-giving, life-changing power of our ministries in so many places and ways. What we do together as Church makes God’s love real in the world and has tremendous, inspiring impact. I feel incredibly blessed to be in a position where I can nurture and strengthen this amazing work.”

Featured Preacher, the Rev. Nelson Jerome Pierce, Jr.: Pastor of Beloved Community Church

Rev. Nelson Jerome Pierce, Jr. is the senior pastor of Beloved Community Church, and Chief Political Officer at Transforming Change where he works to help social justice organizations and faith communities deepen their impact and advance meaningful change.  Rev. Pierce is a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary where he earned his Masters of Divinity.

Rev. Pierce has worked to strengthen the justice ministries of churches all around the country. As the lead trainer for the Black Church Institute, Rev. Pierce led workshops and national conventions to equip pastors and churches with the tools they need to address, in a holistic way, the issues of sex and sexuality. While in Ohio, Rev. Pierce has organized clergy from around the state to fight attacks on voting rights and on workers rights, and fought to keep Ohioans safe from Stand Your Ground legislation and police brutality. In the late Summer and Fall of 2014, Rev. Pierce played a critical role in organizing clergy and young people in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO for which he is recognized in a video tribute in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington DC. In the fall 2018, Rev. Pierce led an effort to organize the voting power of the Black Church, an effort that engaged over 50 churches and over 3,000 people.

Amanda Powell: UPCaM Campus Minister

Amanda brings experience in community building, music ministry, multi-cultural and inter-religious worship, and collegiate teaching.

Amanda served on the music faculty at Cleveland State University from 2017-2024 where she enjoyed supporting students as their voice teacher and mentor. She also designed and taught a course called Group Singing and Improvisation.

Amanda is privileged to walk alongside the dynamic students of the UPCaM community. LGBTQ+ affirming and celebrating, she is proud to create safe space for students to explore their faith and spirituality. She believes all of us are God’s children, made in God’s colorful image, loved deeply for the fullness and complexity of who we are.

Learn more about Amanda, her music, and ministry at her website. ‍ ‍